Construction of fields for playing golf



M. B. REACH CONSTRUCTION OF FIELDS FOR PLAYING GOLF Dec. 7, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledNov. 20, 1947 INVENTOR BY MILTON B. REACH ATTORNEYS 'Dec. 7, 1948. H 2,455,806

7 CONSTRUCTION OF FIELDS FOR PLAYING GOLF Filed NOV. 20, 194? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z r a r r I INVENTOR Y MILTON B. REACH a -ww ATTORNEYS 7, 1943- M. B. REACH GORSTRUC TION OF FIELDS FOR PLAYING G'QLF 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nbv. 20, 1947 FIG.4

B mm Fm WA u I. I I. II .l u I 1 SSa: I g

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONSTRUCTION or FIELDS FOR PLAYING GOLF Milton B. Reach, Springfield, Mass.

Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,216

Claims. (Cl. 273-32) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of a field for playing golf. It has a number of important purposes. One of them is to provide a field marked oif for playing a real competitive golf game with substantially all the skill each player may have acquired from playing i on orthodox golf courses, and an outstanding characteristic of this golf playing field is the remarkably small acreage used and the inexpensive construction and upkeep required as compared to any orthodox golf course. Furthermore the field is marked off and provided with means to accommodate more golf players in playing action than the orthodox golf course of either nine or eighteen hole area. Other purposes and advantages will be described along with the description of an example of the way to practice the invention. The best and most complete example now known to me is shown in the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the new golf field or course constructed and arranged as the means for playing golf;

Fig. 2 is a pictorial view showing the central target element of Fig.1 and in a preferred form for such element;

Fig. 3 is a central cross section of the element in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing more detail of one of the putting greens of the sixteen greens indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a rubber mat such as any one of the twenty-eight such mats indicated in Fig. 1: Fig. 6 is a cross section of the rubber mat shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 1 but indicating a modification in that the golf field or course shown in approximately one-quarter of the area of that shown in Fig. 1.

The example will be described in its completeness and the scope of the invention disclosed will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the example of Fig. 1 there is shown a center playing field of about 412 yards long and 200 yards wide surrounded by a sufficient margin to accommodate the tees B, C, D, E and the greens G at the sides of the center field. There are six tees, two As, two Als, two A2s, at each end of the field and eight greens G at each side of the field placed as seen in Fig. 1. The greens G are each about 36 feet in diameter. This is preferably of smaller area than a green of orthodox size since pitch shots to the green are not necessary and putting strokes only are needed. It will be understood the full orthodox green is used for both pitch shots and putting strokes and the green of the new field to this extent, may be smaller. Each of the 16 greens G shown around the field are preferably of identical construction with the hole, marked in the drawing by fiag N, eccentrically located.

What will be referred to as the target WT is located centrally of the field. Its construction is seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and consists of a water pool to make a water target. It is preferably the size of an orthodox green, being about 30 yards in diameter and located at the end of the fairway like an orthodox green, but with a water surface. The side walls of the water target pool slope down to a low center point toward which balls will gravitate for convenient collection (Fig. 3).

A rubber mat M with perforated bosses K (Figs. 5 and 6) to receive a tee element TE or itself hold the golf ball GBabove the mat M for driving, is located at each of the 28 driving locations around the field.

A screen Z is mounted at each side of the driving location to shield players concentrating on their own play from badly hit balls from other locations. I

As indicated there may be a pathway W completely around the outside of the center playing field and connecting pathways P from each side tee to a corresponding putting green G behind the tee. Shrubbery or hedges J may be used to better separate the greens.

On the center playing field there are two line marks R on opposite sides of the water target. These line marks R of the example are low ridges of earth as indicated. Each marks the yard distance from its end of the field. This is a par drive distance for women players. The sand strip S marks the mens par drive distance from the corresponding end of the field. The sand strip S, as indicated, marks the center of the field.

In the drawings, means are shown to illuminate the field for playing after dark. This feature will be referred to later, after an example for daytime playing is given.

One example of a preferred way to score in playing on the field construction of Fig. 1 will now be described. Assume that each player is to make all the strokes, with a minor exception to be explained, that he would make on an orthodox nine hole golf course. Consider the latter as a golf 3 course laid out for par play of thirty-four strokes in which par for hole #1 is four, calling for a drive, a long iron, and two putting strokes on the green; par for hole #2 is four. by a drive, a medium iron, and two putting strokes; par for hole #3 is three, by a long iron drive and two putting strokes; par for hole #4 is four, by a drive, short iron shot, and two putting shots; par for hole #5 is four, by a drive, a pitch shot. and two putting strokes; par for hole #6 is-three, by a medium iron shot and two putting strokes; par for hole #7 is four, by a drive, a longiron shot and two putting strokes par for hole #8 is four, by a drive, a medium iron shot and two putting strokes; and par for hole #9 is four, by a drive, a pitch and two putting strokes. This detail is given because it is a fair example of the par playing layout for a full sized, nine hole golf course, that is a par course of thirty-four and of the routine country club kind for customary playing with all the skill the players may have. Such detail is desired here for comparison with golf playing on the new golf field being disclosed. On the new field of Fig. l,

the same variety of par strokes is planned for a he has par for that drive. If he does not, the

method of scoring assumes that he would make the distance on his second stroke. This assumption is on the basis that the player can get better than two hundred yards in two strokes except for absolute nus-hits which are ignored in the scoring routine; When he does not make the distance 4 score of strokes for hole #1 to put on their score cards.

Their par score card for the play being described is as follows:

Score card Per for hole drive and iron drive me :11 um iron drivesnd short iron drive p medi um iron. drive and pitch Conreoper immncmwbcmmu It will be seen from this par score card, where "drive" indicates the longest par distance,.that the foursome starts for hole #2 by again driving from tee A or if that is occupied by other players,

The foursome" starts on his first drive he takes one "penalty stroke in his score. This is the minor exception above referred to in scoring the strokes. This plan has the advantage that the player who does not make a par drive from tee A does not go onto the main playing field to make any second stroke, and the speed of the foursome is not slowed down by one poor player as in the orthodox game. The ball is not retrieved while play is going on but merely left to be picked up when the field is being cleared. The "foursome" having all driven oil from tee A walk the marginal sidewalkW to tee 15. Here they each drive for the water target WT trying for a stroke distance of 160 yards minimum and for accuracy within the area of the water target. The scoring for this stroke being made up as before-one stroke for a splash hit in the water target WT and two strokes for a miss. Here again no player goes on the main field for a second stroke to get his required distance of 160 yards minimum and hit the water target area but instead takes one penalty stroke on the assumption that on a second stroke over the shorter distance he would hit it. The required distance from tee B is for a long iron and when the foursome have taken their drives and scored them, with penalties, if any, from this tee it is assumed they are all on the green for hole #1. They then walk the path Pv from this tee back to the adjacent green G and hole out on the green G for putting strokes only, which green as above stated needs be sized only for their putting strokes and is of proper size for such purpose. The players then have their fromfspare tee Al or A2. After setting their score of strokes, some of which may be penalty strokes, they walk the path W to the tee C located from the water target WT a distance 01-125 yards minimum for a medium iron shot. They score their strokes from tee C in the manner described for tee B, both distance and accuracy being required. They then go to the green Gi' adjacent tee C for their two par putting strokes and score their total for hole #2.

The above score card indicates that the players go to tee B to start shooting for hole #3, which calls for a long iron shot of 160 yards minimum to the water target and from tee B to its adjacent green for their putting strokes for hole #3. Hole #4 is scored by using tee A, Al or A2 and tee I), having a, distance of 100 yards minimum and calling for a short iron shot with required accuracy to the water target WT, and the green G2 adlacent tee D for holinz out. Hole #5 is scored by using tee A, Al or A2, then tee E, with its distance of 75 yards minimum for-a pitch to hit the water target, and the green G3 adjacent tee E for putting strokes to finish the score for hole #5. From what has been said and reference to the above set. forth par score card it will now be clear how to play for scoring the remainin holes 4", #1, #0 and #9. It will be understood that tee B may be used for long iron shots, tee C for medium iron shots, tee -D for short iron shots, and tee E for pitch shots. The par scoring from tees B, C, D and E require both their respective distances and accuracy to the water target. if the water target is nothit from any one of these four tees a penalty stroke results. This is to keep the players oi! the center field and not delay other players from hitting their balls onto the cente field at all times. From the nature of the play of the one foursome described, it will be clear that a second foursome can start immediately after the first one begins to walk from tee A along the center field margin to tee B. The second foursome can follow the first one very closely, the time necessary to space the two foursomes in their play being only that necessary for the foursome ahead to finish their drives from each tee or to hole out on the greens adjacent the tees. A third foursome may follow the second in the same way as the second follows the first, and so on until the field has its full capacity of players, all busy playing the same.

The construction of the field shown in the example of Fig. 1 makes it clean-that the same kind of golf play as already described can be carried on in each of the four quadrants of the field as a whole. Thus in the example of play given above many foursomes may be playing their nine holes of golf without interference and all taking pleasure not only by their competition between the actual players but also by each player's interest in whether or not he can make a par stroke and a par score for each hole played. The character of the field construction is adapted to bring into re.-

stricted space substantially all the advantages of the par score card playing as based on the regular golf course game, the par distances of all strokes and the par accuracy of all but the longest ones being required by'the central water target. A most important purpose of the special field arrangement is to provide a true competitive golf game with its many varieties of par strokes promoting competition among the players of each group and demanding all the skill they may have. At the same time, each individual player is chal-' lenged by the par score card to,attain the high objective of a par scoring such as is commonly available on full area golf courses.

The area of the field shown in Fig. 1, to easily accommodate many foursomes all playing without one interfering or causing delay of anothers playing, is an area of about twenty acres more or less. Twenty acres is but a relatively small part of a conventional nine hole golf course. It should be noted that the example of this invention shown by Fig. l is approximately four times the acreage needed to practice the invention in its broad aspect.

A careful calculation of the capacity of the whole field in the example of Fig. 1 is that thirtysix foursomes, or one hundred and forty-four players can play the game for nine holes, every hour. This is a. capacity far beyond the capacity of the orthodox nine hole golf course. The actual play, however,of each player on the new field approaches very closely his most skillful playing efforts on the orthodox course, for the most part the physical movements of his play requiring identical skill onboth the new and the orthodox course. Having a common target WT for the four quarters of the Fig. 1 example is very useful. The players who finish playing a, nine hole game on one quarter can shift to another quarter fora second 1 game or run out their game to eighteen holes. There is no advantage of a change of wind or sun conditions as the four quarters, or any two of them, can all be used as the players desire. The invention, however, in one of its broad aspects is seen with respect to only one quarter of the field in the example of Fig. 1. This is illustrated by the example of Fig. 7.

The example of the field laid out as in Fig. 7 is substantially like one quarter of the field seen in Fig. 1. Being a field generally corresponding to one quarter the area of' the Fig. 1 example, this Fig. 7 example will be described with some variations to indicate the flexibility for which the main idea of the invention is adapted. Let the layout of this main field be taken 100 yards by 250 yards with the water target WT the same as in Fig. 1 but placed in a. corner of the field. The series of spaced tees T at one end of the field are all available for the longest par drives. Assume that one wants this field for women to play their per game. Then the longest drives are up to the cross line marker of 170 yards. The shot from tee Tl for a long iron shot to the target will be 160 yards;

from tee T2 for a medium iron shot to the target will be yards; from T3 for a short iron shot to the target will be 120 yards; from T4 for a pitch to the target will be 75 yards. Correspondingly if one wants the field laid out for a mans par game, the par distances may be increased respectively to 210, 200, 185, and 100 yards. The side greens and target may be as they are for the women's par field. The change to the men's par field is made merely by moving tees TI, T2, T3 and T4 to their respective distances at the side of the field. Of course, by providing duplicate sets of tees at the side, the field may be used interchangeably for men and women.

Of course thetwo examples of Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 may have their dimensions changed, those given being for purposes of illustrating the means of playing according to the orthodox par play with minor exception. That is to say the orthodox par score card varies from one orthodox golf course to another and so too the new field may have its playing distances varied without departing from the substance of the invention disclosed in the examples which are specifically described above. Where it is found in a particular use of the invention that there is a tendency to a bottle neck of players on any particular green, one or more extra greens to break this bottle neck tendency in particular instances may be placed back of the tees at the end of the field. It will be seen from the example of the par score card given above that playing for seven of the nine holes is started on the tees at the end of the field. Thus the players in any quarter of the Fig. 1 example may use any end green or greens almost as conveniently as the side marginally located greens. The latter are preferred, but no player need to be blocked 011' from going on with his game by a slow movement of players from the green adjacent the side tee he has just finished using.

It will now be clear from what has been said that the golf playing field of this invention is particularly adapted to playing golf very closely to the orthodox manner of nine or eighteen hole golf play but in a field restricted enough in area for a large crowd of spectators to see the whole game, as it is played. In this respect the new field brings the game within the view of crowds as baseball and football fields do. A grandstand H (Fig. 1) or other seating accommodations may be provided. As far as I know, no golf course field has been, before this, so adapted and constructed in the interest of the crowds of spectators who desire to see the-golf game played competitively by players at or near the top rank.- Furthermore, the field is adapted for illumination and means L and LI are indicated in Fig. 1 to light up the field both for players and spectators. Banks of lamps or other illuminating means may be used in place of the means indicated in Fig. 1. Night golf of a high order of full play is thus made feasible for fun, for professional display, and for profitable amusement enterprises.

The main field water target as indicated in the drawings is provided with special means of illumination. The fiood lights X directed on it give the target a special spotlight efi'ect very useful in the overall aspects of the invention, particularly at night (Fig. 2). When the golf ball hits the water target there is a splash, a very attractive thing for the player even in the day time. In night play on the new field there are all the day time advantages of the water auasoo target to which is added the attractions of the bouncing water drops, literally carrying high lights of exclamation points to please the competitive player and all spectators on the side lines of play. This feature of the character of target is adapted for many kinds of golf play aimed at it. It joins into the plan of play provided by the new field and is of particular significance in this disclosure. For convenience the side walls of the water target are sloped toward a center basket CB to which balls will gravitate. The basket may be lifted out by being fastened to the center flag pole GP for the target "hole" (Fig. 3).

One of the important uses to which the invention may be put is for playing golf very closely to the orthodox game without the attendant expense. Most people who want to play orthodox golf have to work most of the daylight hours. The few hours that are available before and after work are to a great extent wasted in sitting around public golf courses waiting for a chance to play. To satisfy the outstanding need for a chance for workers to play, this new field is disclosed. It will accommodate steady playing both day and night in a reasonable way. A calculation of the reasonable chances for play is that the field of Fig. 1 will between nine A. M. and nine P. M. accommodate 864 players, more than any two orthodox golf courses can accommodate in a full days play. Even the small town can afford a golf playing field of the kind and for the purpose described to accommodate its working people. The big cities can supplement their provisions for worker's play and accommodate a great many more players than they have been able to do before this invention.

Another useful aspect of the invention is its adaptability to sectional or national tournament play. Whereas golf courses in various cities necessarily differ, reproductions of my playing field may be standardized so that sectional or national team matches may be played without necessitating traveling on the part of the contestants. Each team, or individual player, may play to a prescribed medal score,'which, as explained. is-

standard for the course.

Since competitive tournaments have greatly added to the increasing popularity of golf, the economy eflected-in tournament play by the invention should accelerate further the growth of the game. More people can afford tournament play. Tournaments, however, need no longer be confined to the individual or small individual groups. The invention makes industrial golf as stated and to provide means for golf players leagues as feasible as bowling, baseball or basketball leagues.

Having disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A golf game structure comprising a playing field and on the field, a water pool construction to provide a liquid target of about the same size as and to simulate the green used as a target on an orthodox golf course, a'plurality ,of playing stations spaced apart from each other to present clear separate paths at different angles to the liquid target and also spaced away from the target at different distances, each distance corresponding to a diflerent iron in a set of golf clubs and to the distance for which the iron is used in good golf playing on an orthodox golf course, a full sized fairway, a set of spaced tee stations at one end of the fairway for long wood drives along the fairway, the playing stations related to the liquid in separate groupings spaced apart along the border of the fairway, whereby players on the field may move in playing the game. from the particular tees of their long drives to the plurality of playing stations along side the fairway and in the sequence of their iron shots to the target, and a plurality of spaced putting greens severally arranged adjacent the several stations, for players each to-complete play on one hole and return to the long drive stations for the next, all the structure above pointed out being related as stated and to provide means for many golf players to play at one time according to the method described.

2. A golf game structure comprising a playing field and on the field, a water pool construction to provide a liquid target of about the same size as and specifically constructed to simulate the green used as a target on an orthodox golf course, a plurality of playing stations spaced apart from each other to present clear separate paths at different angles and for different distances, to the liquid target and also spaced away from the target at diiferentdistances, each distance corresponding to a different iron in a set of golf clubs and the distance for which the iron is used -in good golf playing on an orthodox golf course, a full sized fairway, a set of spaced tee stations at one end of the fairway for long wood drives along the fairway, the playing stations related to the liquid target for iron shots and the tee stations at the end of the fairway for wood drives all being arranged in separate groupings spaced apart along the border of the fairway whereby players on the field may move in playing the game from the particular tees of their long drives to the plurality of playing stations along side the fairway and in the sequence of their iron shots to the target, and a plurality of spaced putting greens severally arranged adjacent the several stations, all the structure above pointed out being related to play according to the method described.

3. A golf game structure which consists in a ground playing area of generally rectangular outline, a water pool target about the size of a conventional golf green, lighting apparatus at the margin of the pool to light its area and high light the water splash when the ball hits the target, playing stations positioned for iron shots to the target from different angles, such stations arranged at different distances. from the target, such distances being predetermined to correspond to different types of iron clubs of a set used to shoot from one distance or another as on an orthodox golf course, lighting apparatus adj event such stations, a full sized fairway at least one yard line mark across the fairway to indicate the distance of a good long wood drive along the fairway, teeof! playing stations at the end of the fairway, each one for a long wood drive along the fairway as in playing on an orthodox golf course, lighting apparatus adjacent such tee of! playing stations, said playing stations for iron shots and said tee off playing stations for wood drives being separated and arranged in distinctive groups and these groups being arranged along the border and adjacent the fairway, a group of separated full sized putting greens also arranged along the border and adjacent the fairway, lighting apparatus at each putting green, said group of putting greens being positioned with the aforesaid two groups of playing stations in a triangular arrangement along the border of the fairway so that players may walk a circuit including a play-- ing station for a wood drive for distance, a playing station for an iron shot distance and placement on the water target, and a putting green for holing out, and repeat such a circuit in playing most of the holes in a game of golf according to the method described.

4. A golf game structure which consists in a playing field and on the field a water pool target of generally round shape about the size of a golf green around the hole on an orthodox golf course, playing stations positioned for iron shots to said target from different angles, such stations arranged at different distances from the target, one for a long iron shot, one for a medium iron, one for a short iron, and one for a pitch shot to the target to correspond to the distances calling for one iron or another, to shoot from one distance or another in a set of golf clubs, a full sized f airway, a set of spaced tee stations at one end of the fairway for long wood drives along the fairway, said playing stations arranged at different distances to the liquid target for iron shots being arranged in a group along the side line of the fairway and a set of spaced putting greens arranged adjacent the several playing stations along the side line of the fairway whereby the players in each golf game on the field may go the rounds from their start at the end of the fairway to the proper iron shot station for the 10 hole they are playing, to the adjacent green for putting, and back to the end of the fairway to start play for the next hole all according to the method described.

5. A game structure for playing golf in a restricted area comprising a playing field and on the field a water pool construction for a liquid target of about the same area and made to simulate the green target area around one of the holes on an orthodox golf course, a signal flag construction positioned within the liquid target area to further simulate the orthodox green construction. and apparatus at the bottom of the pool operable for collecting and removing golf balls which hit the target, the aforesaid structure being particularly adapted for the playing field on which golf may be played by many people at one time in a restricted area.

MILTON B. REACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,851,423 Ely Mar. 29, 1932 2,248,053 Bales July 8, 1941 

